How to Find the Right Literary Agent for Your Book

​Have you ever dreamed of becoming a traditionally published author? It's a tremendous achievement to write a book, but the journey to getting it published can be long and challenging. One crucial step in this journey is finding a literary agent who can help you navigate the publishing industry and get your book in front of the right people. 

Getting an agent is especially important if you aspire to be traditionally published, which is the dream of many new authors. They are your gateway into traditional publishing. Self-publishing is a great option, too. More on that in other posts. 

(Before we get started, a small shout-out to the SFWA’s Buyer Beware website for curating all the bad actors in publishing and the people and presses that can prey on unsuspecting writers. It’s helpful to go into this with your eyes wide open.)

To help you on your journey, I’ve gathered some useful tips and resources on how to find the perfect literary agent for your book. 
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1. Make sure your manuscript is ready for submission

Before you begin your search, make sure your manuscript is ready. Don’t start if your manuscript is unfinished or you’ve just finished one draft. You’re going to want to do as much self-editing as you can and have at least a few drafts under your belt. It’s not always necessary to work with a professional editor before you submit, but it can help to make sure your plot works and the manuscript is readable and not riddled with errors that can be distracting. It can be especially useful to hire a professional copyeditor to help refine your query letter and sample (which agents may ask for if they are into your query and want to read more).

2. Research literary agents carefully

First off, you don’t necessarily NEED to have an agent. But they will be invaluable to get your foot in the door to bigger publishers. This infographic on the life cycle of a book will show you where agents fit into the publishing journey. 
Many publishing houses still accept unsolicited submissions from authors who do not have agents, especially for genre fiction and medium-sized publishers. The Big 5 publishers and others that require an agent to submit a vetted manuscript will usually specify this on their website.

Before you start submitting your manuscript to literary agents, you need to do your research. Look for agents who represent books in your genre and are currently open to queries. You can find this information on the agent’s website, their social media profiles, or by searching online. Make a list of potential agents and study their submission guidelines and requirements.

Here are some online resources and places to start your literary agent search:

• ​QueryTracker
• Publishers Marketplace
• Manuscript Wish List
• Agent Query database
• Poets & Writers database
• Reedsy Database

Websites like QueryTracker and Publishers Marketplace allow you to search for literary agents by genre and provide information on their submission guidelines, track record, and recent deals. You can also use social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to connect with agents and learn more about their interests and preferences. Think about this like starting a friendship. You want to find a friend who has similar interests as you. You want to build a productive and mutually beneficial relationship.

The same goes if you’re going to submit your manuscript directly to publishers (the ones who will accept unsolicited manuscripts, that is). Look for publishers currently publishing your genre. A publisher that focuses on a specific type of genre fiction will likely reject anything that doesn’t fit with their typical list. It’s much easier to pitch to a company that has sold and marketed the genre you write in. A great starting place to research Canadian publishers is the Association of Canadian Publishers directory.

Tip: Check out the hashtag on Twitter #MSWL (Manuscript Wish List) to see what agents are looking for. Check out this blog post on how to effectively search the hashtag. You can also use #AmQuerying to commiserate with other writers looking for agents.

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3. Write a Great Query Letter
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Researching and querying literary agents is a critical step in the process of connecting with agents. As mentioned, it’s important to research agents who represent your genre. If they don’t, it doesn’t matter how perfect your query is.

The first thing is to look up their submission guidelines. Each agent will have their own outlined on their website, so make sure you follow them carefully. Don’t give them a reason to disqualify you out of the gate! 

You’ll be asked to submit a query letter, which is a one-page personalized letter (200-400 words) that introduces you and your book to a literary agent. It should include your book’s genre, word count, title, a hook and description of your story, followed by a note about yourself. Your query letter is your first impression, so it needs to be engaging, professional, and well-written. If it hooks the agent, they’ll ask for a sample or the full manuscript. Once an agent wants to represent your book, it’s their job to pitch it to editors and sell the book to an interested publisher.

Great resources on how to write a query letter:

• Complete guide to query letters (Jane Friedman)
• Free Reedsy course on query letters​​

4. Be Persistent & Track Your Submissions
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Finding a literary agent is not an easy process, and it can take time, loads of research and follow-up, and above all persistence. You may receive rejections or no response at all. Don't get discouraged. Keep working on your manuscript and query letter, and submit in batches. It’ll also be important to keep track of your submissions: which agents you’ve queried, when you queried, and their response.

Here are some options for query tracking. You can always track your own queries on a Google Sheet, but these services are also available to you:

• Duosuma
• QueryTracker
• The Submission Grinder

With the right approach and a great manuscript, you can find an agent who believes in your work and can help you achieve your traditional publishing goals.
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Where are you headed?
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So many writers struggle with connecting with agents or others working in publishing. And I get it. Because it’s not about plot or grammar or the nuances of dialogue, and seems to be outside the writer’s wheelhouse.

But knowing how to effectively network and pitch a book are key skills for any writer who wants to traditionally publish. 

Let me know in the comments if you plan to seek an agent or traditional publisher. And be sure to check out my editing services if you’d like more focused help with your query or proposal.
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Hi! I'm Erika.
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​​I’m a copyeditor who helps speculative fiction authors publish the best version of their books. I’m a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and ACES.

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